Now that climate change has blurred seasonal boundaries, here's a new fact about spring, summer, autumn, and sometimes even winter: sweltering heat may be on its way to your area, or it may already be there.
Every year in the United States, high temperatures cause thousands of heat-related illnesses and fatalities. Developing a personal heat plan can assist you in remaining safe when the heat index rises.
Who is particularly vulnerable during the heat of the summer?
Extreme heat can affect anyone. Children, outdoor labourers, those who are pregnant or have health issues or disabilities, as well as the elderly, are more likely to be harmed by rising temperatures. For instance:
Young children, particularly infants, have a diminished capacity to withstand extremely high temperatures.
People who work outdoors may not have access to shelter and may engage in physically demanding work. OSHA regulations stipulate that they require adequate hydration, adequate pauses, and access to a cool area during break time.
People with chronic medical conditions, such as kidney or heart disease, may have difficulty physiologically adapting to hot weather or be more susceptible to its adverse health effects.
Some individuals with disabilities or neurological conditions may have trouble with thermoregulation — that is, controlling their body temperature — or may be unable to take precautionary measures, such as removing layers or moving to a cooler area.
Which weather patterns result in dangerous heat levels?
High temperatures and high humidity both contribute to dangerous heat because they prevent us from perspiring, which is how we cool off. Extremely high temperatures can be hazardous in arid regions.
Danger zones in the United States and internationally diverge. However, hospitalisations and fatalities increase when temperatures surpass a certain threshold. The threshold varies based on how well bodies, cultures, and architecture are acclimated to heat in various locations.
In New England, for instance, where some people (especially those with limited means) may not have access to air conditioning, we observe increases in healthcare utilisation and mortality at lower temperatures than in the American South, where people and organisations may be more accustomed to dealing with hot weather.
Every year in the United States, high temperatures cause thousands of heat-related illnesses and fatalities. Developing a personal heat plan can assist you in remaining safe when the heat index rises.
Who is particularly vulnerable during the heat of the summer?
Extreme heat can affect anyone. Children, outdoor labourers, those who are pregnant or have health issues or disabilities, as well as the elderly, are more likely to be harmed by rising temperatures. For instance:
Young children, particularly infants, have a diminished capacity to withstand extremely high temperatures.
People who work outdoors may not have access to shelter and may engage in physically demanding work. OSHA regulations stipulate that they require adequate hydration, adequate pauses, and access to a cool area during break time.
People with chronic medical conditions, such as kidney or heart disease, may have difficulty physiologically adapting to hot weather or be more susceptible to its adverse health effects.
Some individuals with disabilities or neurological conditions may have trouble with thermoregulation — that is, controlling their body temperature — or may be unable to take precautionary measures, such as removing layers or moving to a cooler area.
Which weather patterns result in dangerous heat levels?
High temperatures and high humidity both contribute to dangerous heat because they prevent us from perspiring, which is how we cool off. Extremely high temperatures can be hazardous in arid regions.
Danger zones in the United States and internationally diverge. However, hospitalisations and fatalities increase when temperatures surpass a certain threshold. The threshold varies based on how well bodies, cultures, and architecture are acclimated to heat in various locations.
In New England, for instance, where some people (especially those with limited means) may not have access to air conditioning, we observe increases in healthcare utilisation and mortality at lower temperatures than in the American South, where people and organisations may be more accustomed to dealing with hot weather.
It may be difficult for busy individuals to adopt heart-healthy activities. These straightforward substitutions can help.
It can be difficult to prioritise heart health with a hectic schedule. It appears that there is no time for heart-healthy behaviours such as regular exercise, getting enough sleep and healthy nutrition. Therefore, you may take the stairs whenever possible or park further away from stores in order to increase your daily step count. But what else are your options? Here are three potential additions to your agenda:
Replace electronic communication with face-to-face meetings.
Texting, emailing, social media, and Zoom calls are acceptable as your primary means of communication. According to a scientific statement published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, it's not acceptable if these methods leave you feeling lonely or isolated, two conditions linked to increased risks for heart disease, heart attack, or stroke.
Try to replace some of your technological back-and-forth with people with in-person meetings in order to battle loneliness and isolation. Perhaps you can find time in your schedule for a brief walk, a cup of coffee, or lunch with a colleague or friend.
Matthew Lee, a sociologist and research associate at Harvard University's Human Flourishing Programme, explains, "Spending time face-to-face helps connect you to others and may make you feel less alone." "Being physically present can help you feel more engaged with others, more valued, and more likely to experience a sense of shared identity — all of which can help alleviate feelings of loneliness." This is why some physicians are beginning to engage in "social prescribing,' which includes recommending that patients participate in volunteer work and other activities that foster interpersonal social relationships."
Lee and a team of Harvard researchers recently published a study in the International Journal of Public Health indicating that social connectedness may reduce the likelihood of being diagnosed with depression or anxiety. Both are linked to heart disease and aggravate existing cardiac conditions.
Replace electronic communication with face-to-face meetings.
Texting, emailing, social media, and Zoom calls are acceptable as your primary means of communication. According to a scientific statement published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, it's not acceptable if these methods leave you feeling lonely or isolated, two conditions linked to increased risks for heart disease, heart attack, or stroke.
Try to replace some of your technological back-and-forth with people with in-person meetings in order to battle loneliness and isolation. Perhaps you can find time in your schedule for a brief walk, a cup of coffee, or lunch with a colleague or friend.
Matthew Lee, a sociologist and research associate at Harvard University's Human Flourishing Programme, explains, "Spending time face-to-face helps connect you to others and may make you feel less alone." "Being physically present can help you feel more engaged with others, more valued, and more likely to experience a sense of shared identity — all of which can help alleviate feelings of loneliness." This is why some physicians are beginning to engage in "social prescribing,' which includes recommending that patients participate in volunteer work and other activities that foster interpersonal social relationships."
Lee and a team of Harvard researchers recently published a study in the International Journal of Public Health indicating that social connectedness may reduce the likelihood of being diagnosed with depression or anxiety. Both are linked to heart disease and aggravate existing cardiac conditions.
It's unlikely that our physical health is the only aspect that affects how long we live. According to a recent study, social aspects of older individuals' lives may have an impact on their longevity.
Researchers questioned 8,250 people 65 and older for the Harvard-led study, which was published online by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on February 7, 2023. 22% passed away in the subsequent four years. Eight out of 183 potential characteristics were shown to be stronger predictors of participant fatalities during those four years, according to the researchers. These included living in an unclean neighbourhood, feeling little control over their financial situation, not working for pay, not volunteering, and receiving less courtesy or respect from others. They also included feeling isolated, seeing their kids less than once a year, and not being involved in their lives.
Researchers questioned 8,250 people 65 and older for the Harvard-led study, which was published online by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on February 7, 2023. 22% passed away in the subsequent four years. Eight out of 183 potential characteristics were shown to be stronger predictors of participant fatalities during those four years, according to the researchers. These included living in an unclean neighbourhood, feeling little control over their financial situation, not working for pay, not volunteering, and receiving less courtesy or respect from others. They also included feeling isolated, seeing their kids less than once a year, and not being involved in their lives.
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Do you want to increase your fibre consumption, reduce your tension, and become more physically active?
A randomised study published in the January 2023 issue of The Lancet Planetary Health found that participants who grew their own produce enjoyed all of these advantages. About 300 participants (average age: 41) wore activity monitors and participated in periodic diet and health surveys. Nobody had maintained a garden for at least two years. One-year community garden plots and an introductory gardening course were provided to half of the participants. The other participants were instructed to refrain from horticulture for an entire year. Compared to non-gardeners, gardeners consumed approximately two more grammes of fibre per day (a 7% increase), reported greater reductions in tension and anxiety, and engaged in approximately six additional minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per day (about 40 minutes per week). All of these modifications are associated with improved health, including lower risks of cancer and other chronic diseases.
When the weather is warm, the last thing you want to do is spend a long time styling your hair. If you want a low-maintenance hairstyle that still looks polished, or if you're searching for simple summer hairstyles for long hair, you've come to the right place! Continue reading to discover simple hairstyles by Dvir Tvik.
Are you experiencing workplace discrimination? A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2023 found that individuals who reported experiencing high levels of workplace discrimination were more likely to develop high blood pressure than those who reported experiencing low levels of workplace discrimination.
Discrimination in the workplace refers to unjust conditions or unfavourable treatment based on personal characteristics, especially race, sex, or age.
How can discrimination impact our health?
Despite this, multiple studies have shown that discrimination increases the risk of developing a wide spectrum of heart disease risk factors. This can also include chronic low-grade inflammation, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, in addition to hypertension.
Who participated in the work discrimination research?
The survey followed a national sample of 1,246 adults from a variety of occupations and educational levels, with roughly equal proportions of men and women.
The majority were Caucasian, middle-aged, and married. They were predominantly nonsmokers who consumed low to moderate quantities of alcohol and engaged in moderate to vigorous exercise. None of the participants had elevated blood pressure based on the initial measurements.
Discrimination in the workplace refers to unjust conditions or unfavourable treatment based on personal characteristics, especially race, sex, or age.
How can discrimination impact our health?
Despite this, multiple studies have shown that discrimination increases the risk of developing a wide spectrum of heart disease risk factors. This can also include chronic low-grade inflammation, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, in addition to hypertension.
Who participated in the work discrimination research?
The survey followed a national sample of 1,246 adults from a variety of occupations and educational levels, with roughly equal proportions of men and women.
The majority were Caucasian, middle-aged, and married. They were predominantly nonsmokers who consumed low to moderate quantities of alcohol and engaged in moderate to vigorous exercise. None of the participants had elevated blood pressure based on the initial measurements.
Mindfulness exercises may help with Overeating.
Everyone has indulgent periods that lead to overeating. If it occurs occasionally, there is no cause for alarm. If it occurs frequently, you may question whether you have a problem with excess or a "food addiction." Before you become alarmed, know that neither of these is a recognised medical diagnosis. In fact, the existence of food addiction is the subject of intense debate.
If food addiction exists, it would be induced by a physiological process, and you would experience withdrawal symptoms if you stopped eating certain foods, such as those containing sugar. Helen Burton Murray, a psychologist and director of the Gastrointestinal Behavioural Health Programme at the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital's Centre for Neurointestinal Health's Gastrointestinal Behavioural Health Programme, makes the distinction.
Many individuals do not realise they have overeaten until after they have finished their meal. Consequently, mindfulness exercises can assist you in maintaining reasonable portion sizes.
However, she urges you to seek professional assistance if your eating-related thoughts interfere with your daily functioning. Your primary care physician is an excellent starting point.
Mindfulness is the practise of being present in the present moment and observing the sensory inputs that bombard you. "At mealtime, consider how the food appears, tastes, and smells. What is the feel? What recollections does it evoke? How does it make you feel?" Burton Murray inquires.
By being mindful during meals, you will slow down your eating, pay closer attention to your body's hunger and fullness signals, and possibly avoid overeating.
"It forces you to pause and consider what you're eating, rather than going through the automatic process of seeing food, taking food, and eating it," says Burton Murray.
Prepare yourself for success in eating mindfully by:
Eliminating interruptions. Turn off your phones, televisions, and computers. Eat in a tranquil, uncluttered space.
Pace yourself during a twenty-minute supper. Slowly chew your food and rest your fork between pieces.
Additional mindfulness practises to attempt
Practise mindfulness when you are not consuming to strengthen your mindfulness "muscles." Here are exercises to help you do so.
Concentrated breathing.
"Inhale slowly and exhale slowly. With each inhalation, enable your stomach to expand. Allow your abdomen to expand with each exhalation, as Burton Murray explains. "This engages the diaphragm, which is connected to nerves between the brain and gut, and promotes relaxation."
The life span of young males with prostate cancer is influenced by socioeconomic factors.
In general, prostate cancer is considered a disease of older men. However, approximately 10% of new cancer diagnoses occur in men aged 55 or younger, and these malignancies typically have a poorer prognosis. The difference is partially explained by biological differences. For instance, certain genetic abnormalities are more prevalent in prostate cancers diagnosed in younger men than in elderly men with the disease.
New research from the Jacksonville College of Medicine (JCM) in Florida suggests that socioeconomic factors also play a significant role. It is well established that poverty, educational level, and other socioeconomic status (SES) factors affect cancer survival.
This is the first study to examine how SES affects survival, specifically in early-onset prostate cancer. The findings indicate that men with a lower SES do not survive as long as those with a higher SES. "They're more likely to be diagnosed in advanced stages," says Dr. Carlos Riveros, a physician and research associate at JCM and the paper's lead author.
What the study discovered
Dr. Riveros and his colleagues analysed data from the National Cancer Database (NCD), which is supported by the American College of Surgeons and the National Cancer Institute, during the investigation. The NCD collects information from more than 1,500 institutions across the United States. Between 2004 and 2018, Dr. Riveros's team focused specifically on long-term outcome data for 112,563 men diagnosed with early-onset prostate cancer.
The researchers could determine each patient's postal code. Then, they examined the per-capita income and the percentage of residents who lacked a high school diploma for each of the respective zip codes. The combined income and education data served as a composite SES measure for the population of each zip code. In the concluding step, the team compared the survival rates of patients with early-onset prostate cancer across zip codes.
In comparison to high-SES patients, low-SES men were significantly more likely to be African-American and less likely to have health insurance. More men with low socioeconomic status lived in rural areas and were diagnosed with prostate cancer at stage IV. Fewer low-SES patients were treated at cutting-edge cancer centres, and fewer of them underwent surgery.
After adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, cancer stage, and treatment, men with lower SES were 1.5 times more likely to have died during a median follow-up of 79 months than men with higher SES.
In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, it is not surprising that children are spending more and more time on electronic devices. And while there is undoubtedly much to be learned, investigated, and created using devices, there are skills that devices cannot always teach and which children must acquire.
Play enhances executive function and mood regulation.
Children must acquire and practise executive function, emotional control, and general physical skills as they develop. The best method for children to acquire these abilities is through play, which is why we say that play is a child's work. As devices become more pervasive and as many children become more scheduled with lessons and organised activities, it can be easy to forget to schedule time for device-free play.
I also believe that parents and children are forgetting how to play. Parents used to bring toys for their children to play with while they waited to see me, but now they simply give them their phones. Devices are so pervasive and convenient that it can be difficult to put them down and find something else to do.
Play is necessary for optimal growth.
The Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University has devised excellent handouts for parents on age-appropriate games and activities to support their child's development. I especially appreciate those that involve the parent as well, as this not only benefits the infant but also your relationship.
It's time to upgrade your wardrobe with the newest summer fashion trends now that summer is almost here. This summer's fashion trends are all about making a statement and showing your individuality, from vivid colours to spectacular accessories.
Platform shoes
This season, platform heels are once again in vogue and are the ideal way to up your footwear collection! This summer, there will be a platform shoe for every taste, from trainers to sandals.
Crochet
Crochet is a great way to give your clothing some texture. The crochet style is ideal for the summer because it includes everything from tops to shorts to purses.
Ruffles
Ruffles are another excellent method to give your clothing a feminine touch. This trend, which includes ruffled tops and dresses, is ideal for summer.
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